After selecting the pork ribs and returning to the vegetable section from the meat area, within minutes, Lin Su was back, holding the lettuce Ye Tong had thrust at her, ready to have it weighed. She enjoyed this feeling and was tireless in it.
Since Ji Huaiqiu wasn’t coming, there was no need to buy so much food for a dinner for two. Besides, it was already getting late, and cooking complex dishes or simmering soup would be time-consuming and exhausting. Since Lin Su was the “guest,” Ye Tong decided to buy a few dishes tailored to Lin Su’s tastes.
It seemed that as a CEO, one inevitably developed a few quirks with their appetite. For instance, Lin Su beyond maintaining her health ate very lightly at night, rarely touching large amounts of fish or meat, and rarely even eating animal protein.
Ye Tong would turn around from time to time to politely ask Lin Su what she wanted to eat. Afterward, she bought the groceries, some fruit, and even a few snacks.
This shopping trip took a full half hour.
Lin Su pushed the cart, following Ye Tong as she stopped and started. Watching Ye Tong expertly pick out vegetables and fruit, her eyes never left her. Ye Tong would pick out the best produce just like she used to, asking her to take it to the clerk to be weighed, and just like before, she would ask what she wanted to eat.
It wasn’t until they reached the checkout that Ye Tong realized she had bought quite a lot beyond groceries, there were some household items. To make it easier for two people to carry, Ye Tong specifically asked the cashier to pack them into several separate bags.
Once they were out of the supermarket and in the car, Lin Su watched Ye Tong fasten her seatbelt and start the engine before asking casually, “Did General Manager Ji come?”
Ye Tong paused and pursed her lips. “No, she had things to do tonight and couldn’t make it.”
Lin Su was lost in thought. “No wonder the items Director Ye bought are all things I like to eat.”
“You are a guest,” Ye Tong replied as if it were only natural. “Your tastes should take precedence.”
“Director Ye is so considerate; I’m in for a treat tonight.” Lin Su remembered Ye Tong’s earlier comment about her “eating for free while having so many demands,” and the corners of her lips couldn’t help but curve. She hadn’t made a single demand, yet Ye Tong had always remembered her preferences.
The supermarket was very close to the apartment complex, taking less than ten minutes. Driving into Jinbi Apartments and parking beneath a high-rise as directed by Ye Tong, Lin Su got out and retrieved several bags from the trunk. Ye Tong reached out to take them. “I’ll take them.”
Since Ye Tong’s hand was already extended, Lin Su didn’t force it, handing the bags over to Ye Tong while she only carried two small ones.
The bags were a bit heavy, especially with a bottle of dish soap inside. Ye Tong entered the elevator, but both hands were full, making it inconvenient to press the floor number. Just as she was about to set them down, a slender, well-defined hand reached over. “Which floor?”
Ye Tong: “Twenty-two.”
“Shall I carry them for you?”
Ye Tong looked at Lin Su’s outstretched hand and shook her head. “No need, I can manage.”
Although they were a bit heavy, Ye Tong would rather carry them herself than have Lin Su help. Back then, when they went shopping, she’d practically arrived empty-handed just to enslave Lin Su, using the excuse of “giving her exercise” to prevent her from wasting away at her office desk all day.
Rejected, Lin Su had no choice but to pull back her hand. Looking into the elevator mirror, she saw Ye Tong standing two or three steps away, her posture straight and upright, a faint smile on her face, with a natural, effortless elegance. Looking at her like this, Lin Su found she couldn’t bear to look away.
Ye Tong inadvertently caught Lin Su’s eyes in the mirror. Lin Su blinked at her with a curling lip, a flash of laughter in her deep eyes. Her expression was no longer indifferent, but rather a look that was both strange and familiar. Ye Tong watched Lin Su, her heart skipping a few beats. After staring for a few seconds, she quickly looked away.
As long as they weren’t discussing work, their time together was mostly silent. Ye Tong didn’t want to say anything, and Lin Su didn’t know what to say and even if she did, Ye Tong would inevitably kill the conversation.
The numbers jumped to the twenty-second floor. The elevator opened quickly, and Ye Tong, seeing Lin Su still standing there, reminded her, “We’re here. Let’s go.”
Lin Su nodded and followed Ye Tong out. The front door had an electronic keypad and fingerprint lock. Ye Tong set down the bags to enter the code. Lin Su hadn’t intended to look, but while leaning down to straighten a bottle of dish soap that had tipped over, she accidentally saw the digits. Although she subconsciously turned her face away before seeing the final number, she had already guessed what it was.
“Still haven’t changed that habit?” Lin Su regretted the words the moment they left her lips. She couldn’t close her mouth fast enough, casting a look of slight apprehension toward her.
Ye Tong was stunned. Realizing what Lin Su meant, she felt a flash of shame at being caught, but she remained calm. “Forgot to change it.”
Lin Su pursed her red lips and said nothing. Ye Tong pushed the door open, picked up the bags, took a step, and added, “I’ll change it later.”
The sentence came out awkwardly, sounding like she was protesting too much. Ye Tong was in the habit of using specific dates as passwords for special occasions, and habits were hard to break like the code for this front door. To others, it was just a string of random numbers, but Lin Su knew immediately that it was the date they first met, because on every anniversary, Ye Tong would be so happy.
Now, Ye Tong wasn’t happy. She thought to herself that she would change the code the moment the “old fox” left that night to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings.
“Sit down and rest for a bit. I’ll call you when it’s ready.” Ye Tong brought out a pair of cotton slippers for Lin Su, dropped those words, and took the bags into the kitchen.
There were no awkward, overly polite pleasantries. She just left her there and went to get busy in the kitchen. Lin Su let out a soft laugh, put on the cotton slippers, and looked around the place she was visiting for the first time. The decor was modern, the walls painted a light pink, the furniture arranged neatly, and the floors so clean they practically reflected the lights. It looked like a very warm and inviting home.
Lin Su didn’t sit down to rest. Instead, she took off her coat and chose to enter the kitchen. Ye Tong’s head began to ache as soon as she saw her come in. Before she could think of a way to shoo her out, Lin Su rolled up her sleeves. “I’ll help you. That way we can eat dinner sooner I’m hungry.”
“If you’re hungry, have some fruit or snacks to tide yourself over. I don’t need your help.” Having witnessed Lin Su’s prowess as a “kitchen killer,” Ye Tong tried to make up an excuse to lure her out.
“It’s fine.” Lin Su took the initiative and picked up the basket of greens. “I’ll wash them.”
Ye Tong: “The cold water is very chilly.”
Lin Su turned on the faucet. “It’s fine, my hands have never been warm anyway.”
“Wait.” Ye Tong hurriedly walked over to grab Lin Su’s hand and turned off the faucet. “Don’t wash with cold water; this one is warm.”
“Oh, there’s warm water?” Lin Su reached out to touch it, feeling no bone-chilling cold, and began to pick and wash the greens.
Ye Tong: “Yes.”
“Is washing the greens like this okay?” Lin Su asked, stepping aside to let Ye Tong take a look.
“That’s fine.”
Ye Tong prepared the soup ingredients and chopped the vegetables, looking at Lin Su every now and then. With previous experience as a cautionary tale, she feared this “kitchen killer” would burn her kitchen down that night. Clearly, her worries were misplaced; Lin Su managed to wash the greens without incident.
Lin Su then washed the radish and corn. Seeing how proficient she was, Ye Tong was surprised and simply let her wash the lettuce as well. Two people working together was indeed faster; otherwise, if she were working alone, it might take her an hour before they could even eat dinner.
Having been helped, Ye Tong chopped the radish and complimented her casually: “Not bad, you’ve improved a lot.”
Lin Su: “Don’t underestimate me.”
“I wouldn’t dare underestimate you.”
A faint, indifferent chuckle echoed in her ears. Lin Su washed the lettuce carefully, her eyes lowered, as she said softly: “When you weren’t home, I found time to learn how to cook from the chef. You told me to take good care of myself, so I did take good care of myself.”
As the words fell, Lin Su smiled. “But I’m just not cut out for this. No matter how I try to learn to cook, I just can’t master it unlike you, learning everything so quickly.”
Ye Tong’s knife paused, and she replied quietly: “It’s too late today, and there’s no lavish dinner. Please don’t blame me for the poor hospitality, General Manager Lin.”
“This is already very good for me.” Lin Su smiled faintly. “I’m the one troubling you.”
“Treating you to a meal in exchange for a planning proposal that’s a good deal.” It was profitable, in fact, because the proposal would bring very optimistic benefits to both groups; the clothing brand would gain fame, and the future market sales would be considerable.
Lin Su: “All washed.”
“Good, just wait a moment.” Ye Tong pressed the button on the soup cooker, checked a few times to make sure everything was fine, and then turned to take the washed lettuce from Lin Su. “The oil fumes are quite thick you should go out.”
Lin Su hesitated for a moment, then nodded. She really didn’t like the smell of cooking oil. Watching Ye Tong turn and skillfully chop the vegetables, it was as if they had returned to the past. Her hands, hanging at her sides, moved as if to reach out, but she let them drop. She no longer had the qualifications to come up behind her and embrace her.
When she didn’t hear footsteps, Ye Tong turned to look at her. “Is something wrong?”
“The ties on your apron are loose again. Let me tie them for you.” Lin Su’s gaze toward Ye Tong softened slightly. Seeing Ye Tong nod, she walked behind her, lowered her head slightly, and expertly tied a knot with the two strings.
“Be careful when stir-frying; don’t let the hot oil splash on your hands.” With that, Lin Su walked out.
Ye Tong listened to the footsteps and looked back at Lin Su, holding the vegetable knife and pondering, but nothing came to mind just a normal conversation. She shook her head and continued chopping the vegetables, preparing to cook.
Lin Su exited the kitchen and went to the living room. Although Ye Tong hadn’t forbidden her from wandering around, her upbringing dictated that she should look but not touch anything.
Lin Su had just sat down on the sofa when her eyes were drawn to a photo frame on the side cabinet. The material and color of the frame were very familiar. It was placed face down, hiding the photograph, but she stared at it for several minutes before suddenly standing up.
Lin Su knit her brows, her expression showing some hesitation. She raised her hand, her slender fingertips trembling slightly, and righted the face-down frame. Two familiar faces entered her eyes.
One was her, the other was Ye Tong, who was stir-frying in the kitchen. That year, Ye Tong was 24.
She was hugging Ye Tong’s waist, and Ye Tong was wrapping her arms around her neck, one hand playfully pinching her ear, both of them grinning at the camera in triumph. In the depth of their affection, every feature was filled with infinite tenderness.
The date in the bottom right corner was July 8th, the day they first met, the last anniversary they spent together at the seaside in the summer.
Lin Su’s gaze dimmed. She stood there watching for a long time so long that Ye Tong’s voice came from the dining room: “It’s ready, come eat.”
“Coming.” Lin Su placed it back in its original position and gently pushed it face down, as if it couldn’t bear the light of day.
Ye Tong watched Lin Su sit in the opposite chair, first handing her a bowl of rice, then ladling her a bowl of soup. “Make do with this. Home-cooked food is simple; it can’t compare to the exotic delicacies prepared by the chefs at your house, General Manager Lin.”
“Thank you.” Lin Su accepted the bowl and said earnestly: “I like home-cooked food.”
Ye Tong: “Then eat more.”
“Alright, I won’t stand on ceremony.” Lin Su looked at Ye Tong, who looked the same as always, and then at the two simple dishes and one soup, all of which looked, smelled, and tasted perfect. The familiar fragrance she smelled seemed to carry the taste of home a nostalgia she couldn’t cut off.
It was rare for them to spend time together without awkwardness. Because of their upbringing and habits, Lin Su chewed carefully, eating in a measured, orderly fashion, and Ye Tong did the same. They barely spoke during the meal, occasionally meeting each other’s eyes and sharing a smile.
While eating, Ye Tong was mentally struggling with the issue of the front door password, trying to think of one that was easy to remember but not obvious. Thinking about how the “old fox” had seen it made her feel uncomfortable.
Back when they were in Z City not long ago, a lot had happened. Because Lin Su had been negotiating a collaboration with the head office and the “big boss” had been at the branch office, they had inevitably run into each other that was their first meeting after being separated for many years. At a dinner banquet for two to entertain Lin Su, Lin Su had arrived late, and she had drunk too much, losing her emotional control in front of Lin Su.
Later, Lin Su had driven her home. When they arrived, she had asked for the door code. She had been too dizzy to say it, and Lin Su hadn’t asked again, simply pressing the code the door opened on the first try. She had guessed it immediately. Habits were truly fatal at times, especially when the person who knew you best was involved.
It was all just a long, complicated story…
Ye Tong found the food tasteless. She looked up at the “old fox” and saw that every bone in her body seemed to exude elegance even while eating. She had no appetite for dinner and couldn’t even finish half a bowl of rice.
Lin Su saw Ye Tong put down her bowl and chopsticks and asked softly: “Are you full?”
“Mm, full.”
Lin Su didn’t have much of an appetite either; she couldn’t finish the rice Ye Tong had ladled for her.
“I’m full too.”
Ye Tong pulled out a tissue, handed it to Lin Su, stood up to clear the dishes, and said in a euphemistic tone: “It’s getting late, and we have to get up early for work tomorrow. General Manager Lin, you should go back and rest.”
Lin Su: “I’ll help you wash the dishes.”
“No need, I’ll do it myself.” Ye Tong almost blurted it out.
Lin Su earnestly: “You cooked, I’ll wash the dishes. Fair and square; we’ll call it even.”
This sentence hit Ye Tong’s heart they would owe each other nothing. She frowned slightly and thought about it; anyway, it was just four bowls and two plates. If it meant getting Lin Su to leave sooner, let it be.
“Fine.”
Ye Tong compromised and took the dishes into the kitchen. While scrubbing the pot and washing the cutting board and knife, she kept an eye on Lin Su’s movements, listening to the clatter of dishes as she washed them…
Lin Su had volunteered, but she was obstructed. The few greasy bowls and plates seemed to have a mind of their own, slipping and sliding in the water no matter how she grabbed them, she couldn’t hold them steady, as if they were deliberately trying to embarrass her in front of Ye Tong.
“Be careful.” Ye Tong couldn’t help but remind her, her lips trembling slightly with the urge to laugh.
“It’s fine, I can manage.”
Lin Su knit her brows, scooped up two bowls, rinsed off the soap suds, and was about to put them on the counter when due to her lack of practice and inability to hold them steady “Clatter, clatter,” they fell to the floor and shattered into pieces…
Ye Tong had been watching Lin Su the whole time and wasn’t surprised that she had broken the bowls. In the past, she had always insisted on washing them if she was forbidden, she’d be unhappy and anyway, any time a bowl passed through her hands, at least a dozen would be smashed.
Ye Tong looked at Lin Su with amusement, wanting to see how she would solve it. Lin Su turned her head and met Ye Tong’s gaze with calm composure. “It’s fine, I broke one; tomorrow I’ll pay you back with ten.”
No sooner had the words left her mouth than Lin Su turned around and accidentally bumped into a bowl that had been set aside. The bowl shattered with a “pop.”
“…”